Martial Arts Worlds - Chapter 55: Sea Steps

Kael Veyne was betrayed, hunted, and left for dead in the depths of the Abyssal Dungeon.As an infamous assassin, he was the empire’s deadliest shadow—until the day his guild turned on him.Ambushed in the Abyssal Dungeon, his body was torn apart, and his soul was consumed by the abyss. But death was not the end.He reincarnates 25,000 years later with the Devouring Bloodline System. Kael awakens in the body of a noble scion sharing a similar name to him, and his very essence fused with eldritch power.With every kill, he absorbs primal energy, evolving into something far beyond human. Monsters, mages, mancers, knights, assassins—nothing is beyond his reach.

She was a mere human who only wanted to live a peaceful life in the countryside when she found her mate.He was the workaholic Alpha who never indulged himself in worldly pleasures, instead, he derived joy from being powerful.Their destiny intertwined when they both possessed what they yearned for, peace and love.__________________Before turning the age of 18 years, Alpha Lucas of the Clown Lovers pack claimed to be Aurora's mate and wanted to make her his Luna.Unfortunately, she was accused of infidelity on her wedding day and was rejected by the man who claimed to be her mate and loved her. She had to witness her parents' death and her inheritance snatched away from her.“I, Dominion Lucas, reject you, Madison Aurora as my mate.”………………………………………..After being sold as a slave, she was bought to be a breeder for the Alpha of the Crescent Red pack, the most influential and greatest pack in the country.Damien, who was the Alpha of the Crescent moon pack, didn't spare Aurora a glance, and she was thrown into the deepest part of the mansion to work with the omegas.Five years later, she had meticulously planned her parent's death, ready to set it in motion.Unfortunately, Alpha Damien, who neglected her for years, suddenly got his interest piqued and won't let her out of his sight.Aurora, who never believed she could be blessed with another mate, decided not to fall in love again. Seeing how the Alpha favored her, she decided to take advantage of his help and avenge her parent's death.The tables turned when she discovered he was her mate, another mate?…………………………………………“Mate? I have no such thing,” she said, denying the spark she felt between her and Damien, even though it was glaring. Her heart warmed at his voice, her face warmed at his touch. He already shattered her resolve, but she vowed not to be weak again.Yet, how could she deny not feeling anything for him when he had such effects on her? But she was afraid, terrified of being betrayed by her mate again!There were rare cases of having two mates, why did the moon goddess bestow such a fate upon her?“You can't deny it forever, and I have no intention of letting you go,” he said, his eyes filled with anger, seeing how she was so disgusted about the idea of having him as her mate.“I have nothing to offer you.” She tried convincing him to snap him out of the trance he was in. Only if she knew he was in his right mind.“I only need my mate,” saying that he took heavy strides toward the door and slammed it shut after him.After finding the strength to release her painful past, Aurora is confronted by her first mate, Alpha Lucas, who seeks to reclaim her.Faced with a choice, will she return to the one who betrayed her, or remain with Alpha Damien, who offered her nothing but peace?

What would happen, if one day fantasy collides with reality?

- Description from Novelupdates

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.